Chicago Bulls (32-19, first in the Eastern Conference) vs. Indiana Pacers (19-34, 13th in the Eastern Conference)
Indianapolis; Friday, 7 p.m. EST
LINE: Pacers -1.5; over/under is 231.5
BOTTOM LINE: DeMar DeRozan and the Chicago Bulls face the Indiana Pacers. DeRozan is fourth in the NBA averaging 26.5 points per game.
The Pacers have gone 2-7 against division opponents. Indiana ranks fifth in the Eastern Conference with 24.4 assists per game led by Domantas Sabonis averaging 5.0.
The Bulls are 6-3 against Central Division teams. Chicago is the top team in the Eastern Conference shooting 37.7% from deep. Patrick Williams leads the Bulls shooting 50.0% from 3-point range.
The teams meet for the fourth time this season. The Bulls won 108-106 in the last matchup on Dec. 31.
TOP PERFORMERS: Sabonis is scoring 19.1 points per game with 12.1 rebounds and 5.0 assists for the Pacers. Caris LeVert is averaging 19 points, 5.9 rebounds and five assists over the past 10 games for Indiana.
DeRozan is scoring 26.5 points per game with 5.1 rebounds and 5.0 assists for the Bulls. Nikola Vucevic is averaging 19.6 points, 12.9 rebounds and 3.7 assists over the past 10 games for Chicago.
LAST 10 GAMES: Pacers: 4-6, averaging 116.5 points, 46.6 rebounds, 26.5 assists, 6.3 steals and 4.9 blocks per game while shooting 46.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 122.5 points per game.
Bulls: 5-5, averaging 112.8 points, 45.0 rebounds, 25.6 assists, 6.1 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 48.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 113.5 points.
INJURIES: Pacers: T.J. McConnell: out (wrist), Isaiah Jackson: out (ankle), Myles Turner: out (foot), T.J. Warren: out (foot/health and safety protocols), Domantas Sabonis: out (health and safety protocols), Goga Bitadze: day to day (foot), Malcolm Brogdon: out (achilles), Oshae Brissett: day to day (ankle).
Bulls: Patrick Williams: out (left wrist), Derrick Jones Jr.: out (finger), Alex Caruso: out (wrist), Lonzo Ball: out (knee).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by
